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Green tea reduces cholesterol risk
medicalxpress.com ^ | July 8, 2011 | by Deborah Braconnie

Posted on 07/08/2011 10:31:41 AM PDT by Red Badger

In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Xin-Xin Zheng reports that green tea reduces LDL and total cholesterol. This could explain the reasoning behind green tea’s apparent reduction to the risk of heart disease.

Xin-Xin Zheng and his colleagues from Peking Union Medical College pooled the results of 14 previous trials that looked at the consumption of green tea. The researchers divided participants up into one group that had either consumed green tea or taken green tea supplements for up to at least three months and another group which had been given placebos.

In looking at the results, participants who had consumed green tea saw an average reduction in total cholesterol levels of 7.2mg/dL when compared to the control group. LDL cholesterol showed an average reduction of 2.2mg/dL. There was no change reported in the levels of HDL, or good cholesterol.

Green tea contains catechin which is a flavonoid with antioxidant properties. Researchers believe it is these catechins that decrease the absorption of cholesterol in the body and help reduce cholesterol levels.

These catechins have also been shown in previous studies to demonstrate other heart-healthy benefits. They seem to work as a natural blood thinner and anticoagulant as well as reducing inflammation in the blood vessels.

While the reduction of cholesterol in green tea has been shown, it is only a small reduction and researcher’s stress that green tea should not be used in place of standard cholesterol-reducing treatments. Green tea may however be a useful addition to a traditional heart-healthy diet.

More information: Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials, Xin-Xin Zheng, Yan-Lu Xu, Shao-Hua Li, Xu-Xia Liu, Rutai Hui, and Xiao-Hong Huang, Am J Clin Nutr. First published June 29, 2011, doi: 10.3945/​ajcn.110.010926

Abstract

Background: The effect of green tea beverage and green tea extract on lipid changes is controversial.

Objective: We aimed to identify and quantify the effect of green tea and its extract on total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.

Design: We performed a comprehensive literature search to identify relevant trials of green tea beverages and extracts on lipid profiles in adults. Weighted mean differences were calculated for net changes in lipid concentrations by using fixed-effects or random-effects models. Study quality was assessed by using the Jadad score, and a meta-analysis was conducted.

Results: Fourteen eligible randomized controlled trials with 1136 subjects were enrolled in our current meta-analysis. Green tea consumption significantly lowered the TC concentration by 7.20 mg/dL (95% CI: −8.19, −6.21 mg/dL; P < 0.001) and significantly lowered the LDL-cholesterol concentration by 2.19 mg/dL (95% CI: −3.16, −1.21 mg/dL; P < 0.001). The mean change in blood HDL-cholesterol concentration was not significant. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed that these changes were not influenced by the type of intervention, treatment dose of green tea catechins, study duration, individual health status, or quality of the study. Overall, no significant heterogeneity was detected for TC, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol; and results were reported on the basis of fixed-effects models.

Conclusion: The analysis of eligible studies showed that the administration of green tea beverages or extracts resulted in significant reductions in serum TC and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, but no effect on HDL cholesterol was observed.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cholesterol; greentea; health; ldl
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Why does Green Tea cost more than Black Tea? It has less processing so it should be cheaper............supply/demand?.........
1 posted on 07/08/2011 10:31:49 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger
Why does Green Tea cost more than Black Tea?

Racism.

2 posted on 07/08/2011 10:33:12 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: Red Badger

And it goes great with green eggs and ham.


3 posted on 07/08/2011 10:33:22 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper (And yet...we continue to tolerate this crap...)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: Red Badger

I’m holding out for Greet Tea WITH BACON.


6 posted on 07/08/2011 10:37:39 AM PDT by pogo101
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To: Red Badger

“Green tea reduces cholesterol risk.”

This week.
Next week the ‘experts’ will find that it raises cholesterol risk.


7 posted on 07/08/2011 10:39:09 AM PDT by Carl LaFong (Experts say experts should be ignored.)
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Click the Pic

My vicious cat Rocket cruelly cuts one from the herd

It was the one who didn't donate


Become a monthly donor and end FReepathons

8 posted on 07/08/2011 10:42:22 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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To: Red Badger

The only place to buy good Oolong tea is in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and I ain’t about to be groped by TSA goons for a bag of tea.

Anyone know where to buy oolong seeds? I’ll grow my own.


9 posted on 07/08/2011 11:10:44 AM PDT by sergeantdave
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To: sergeantdave

We buy this brand at Big Lots. about $3.50 box...............

10 posted on 07/08/2011 11:13:26 AM PDT by Red Badger (Casey Anthony: "Surprise, surprise."...............)
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I take a powder drink mix call whelchol, it lowers cholesterol without being a statin


11 posted on 07/08/2011 11:21:26 AM PDT by raygunfan
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To: Red Badger

Tried it once. Tasted like warm water strained through the clippings of a freshly mowed lawn.


12 posted on 07/08/2011 11:21:58 AM PDT by NavyCanDo
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To: raygunfan

Where do you get it and is there a brand name?


13 posted on 07/08/2011 11:29:15 AM PDT by depenzz (My tastes are simple, I'm always satisfied with the best..)
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To: NavyCanDo
Tried it once. Tasted like warm water strained through the clippings of a freshly mowed lawn.

Same effect on me. I have a brother that loves and drinks a pot every day. He only drinks tea from China and seems to know what to buy though.

14 posted on 07/08/2011 11:31:38 AM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: NavyCanDo

We drink it ice cold with sugar, Southern Style................


15 posted on 07/08/2011 11:32:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (Casey Anthony: "Surprise, surprise."...............)
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To: depenzz

it was actually a prescription, and its one small powder packet a day in 6-8 ounces of water....

i know the first time i took it, one month later my total cholesterol count dropped 40 points...


16 posted on 07/08/2011 11:38:16 AM PDT by raygunfan
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To: depenzz
I went to Google and put in (your spelling) W(h)elchol and it came up as Welchol. It is just another prescription drug for cholesterol.

Welchol

17 posted on 07/08/2011 11:42:06 AM PDT by Spunky ( “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abh)
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To: raygunfan; depenzz

Oooops my posting #17 was meant for you also.


18 posted on 07/08/2011 11:44:20 AM PDT by Spunky ( “To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abh)
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To: depenzz
You can buy green tea extract. I'm not sure if it is as effective as green tea.
19 posted on 07/08/2011 11:49:59 AM PDT by death2tyrants
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To: death2tyrants

Thanks everybody.


20 posted on 07/08/2011 11:54:35 AM PDT by depenzz (My tastes are simple, I'm always satisfied with the best..)
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